Bridge



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D. M. EDDY.

I BRIDGE.

No. 510,064. Patented Dec.- 5, 1893.

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BRIDGE.

Patented Dec.

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P TENT it FFICE.

DANIEL M. EDDY, OF STOCKTON, MISSOURI.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,064, dated December 5, 1893.

' Applicationfiled June 15,1893. Serial No. 477,723. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. EDDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, 1n the county of Cedar and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Bridge, of which the following is a specification.

lVly invention relatesto improvements in br1dges, and especially to that class termed suspension.

The objects of my invention areto provide a bridge of simple construction, which is built upon the principle of the suspension bridge and yet embodies in it also the principle of the bow-string bridge, the two principles being combined in a convenient manner and so as to produce a structure of great durability, strength, and steadiness.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out inthe claims.

Referring to the drawingsz Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, a portion of the flooring being broken away to expose the framework below. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective, showing the upper end of one of the towers or pillars. Fig. 6 is a detail, showing the U -shaped clip for connecting the main suspension cable with the struts.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The opposite abutments 1 are of masonry and in front of the same are provided with steps 2 slightly below the plane of the abut ments. Surmounting these steps 2 are metal caps 3 from which the four towers or pillars 5 extend vertically. These towers or pillars 5 are surmounted by saddles 6 adapted to receive the cables in a manner hereinafter described, and are connected at each end of the bridge by arches 11. Arranged over the saddles, between which points they hang, are the opposite main suspension cables 7, the ends of said cables extending backward beyond the towers and being suitably anchored in the ma sonry of the abutments 1. Passing through the lower ends of the towers are the lower floor cables 8, the same extending beyond the said towers and also being suitably anchored "anchored in the abutments.

where the truss cables intersect or cross the suspension cables 7 the two are tied or clipped in the masonry of the abutments. These floor cables 8 support at intervals pairs of crossbeams 9, which beams are spaced apart, having bolted at their centers intermediate packing blocks 10.- Rising from the opposite ends of each alternate pair of beams are the struts 11, the same being vertically extended and diminishing in size from the center toward the ends of the series. The lower ends of the struts are reduced to form pinions 12, which take between and are bolted to the ends of the pairs of beams, as indicated at 13. Theupper ends of these struts are surmounted by saddles 14 and the series at each side of the bridge supportsabowedtruss cable 15. The truss cable 15 joins or passes through thepillars or towers 5 in conjunction with the floor cables 8 and its ends are At the points together as at 16. The truss-cables are'divided at their centersand are connected through the-medium of turn-buckles 17, whereby their tension may be increased or diminished as desired;

Between the struts the suspension cables 7 and the floor cables 8 are connected by short Vertical suspension cables 18, which are drawn to sucha tension as to bow the floor cables 8 slightly. A series of auxiliary cables 19, 20,

and 21 are connected at their opposite ends to the abutments. The course of the cables may be traced as fol1ows: The cable 19 passes under the first cross-beam 9, thence over the saddle 14 of the first strut, thence under the cross-bean1 upon which the second strut is located, thence up over the saddle of the third strut, again down under the cross-beam upon which the fourth strut is located, the end portions extending over the saddles 6 and beyond the same secured to the abutments. The second auxiliary cable 20 passes under the first strut supporting cross-beam, thence over the saddle of the second strut, thence down under the cross-beam of the third strut,thence over the saddle of the fourth strut, down under the next cross-beam, over the saddles 6 to the abutments. The third cable 21 extends under the cross-beam located between the first and second struts, thence upward over the saddle of the second strut, down under the cross-beam between the second and third struts, thence over the saddle of the third strut, thence down under the cross-beam between the third and fourth struts, and finally over the saddles 6 to the abutments. At the points of intersection between the suspension cables 7 and the struts U-shaped belts or clips 22 embrace said cables 7 and pass through the struts, being provided with nuts upon the outer sides of said struts.

\Vindcables 23 extend through the pillars or towers and are arranged diagonally and in opposition to each other, passing alternately around the ends of and under the pairs of beams 9 with the exception of the central beams at which points they pass simply around the ends of the beams, thus forming centralstraight portions. At these points the bracing cables are divided and connected by means of turn-buckles 24:, whereby their tension may be increased or diminished. The beams 9 are surmounted by a series of longitudinal stringers 25, and upon these is laid the floor or driveway.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have embodied in the construction of a bridge the principle of the suspension and the bow-strlng structures, and that as a result I have a stiff, rigid bridge, steady at its center, strong and durable, and not at all complex in arrangement. The central struts where they extend enough above the flooring to permit of the passage thereunder of the. usual loads may be braced by crossbraces 26. The shorter struts have ample supports from the cross-beams, floor-stringers, and suspension cables. It will be seen that the cables extend beyond the pillars or towers and hence exert a bracing action in 'both directions, so that as a consequence loads or weight uponithe bridge at any point is conveniently distributed over the entire structure.

. I do not limit my invention to the exact detail of construction herein shown and described, but hold that I may vary the same to any degree and extent within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic.

The pillars or towers, as well as the intermediate longer struts 11, may be connected in transverse pairs by bowed or arched braces 11?, though the same may be omitted from all or some of such towers and struts.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- 1., In a bridge, the combination with the opposite pairs of towers having saddles at their upper ends, the suspension cables 7 sur mounting the towers and having their opposite ends anchored to the abutments, the floor cables 8 secured to the abutments, the beams supported by the floor cables, and the suspension cables 18 connecting the main suspension cables with the floor cables, of the graduated struts surmounting the ends of the beams, and the bowed truss cable surmounting the struts and secured to the abutments, substantially as specified.

2. In a bridge, the combination with the opposite abutments, the opposite towers having saddles, the main suspension cables surmounting the saddles and secured to the abutments, the floor cables secured to the abutments, the vertical suspension cables connecting the main suspension cables with the floor cables and bowing the latter, and the series of transverse beams surmounting said floor cables, of the series of struts surmounting the ends of the beams, and the bowed truss cables arranged over the ends of the struts and connected with the abutments, substantially as specified. a a,

3. In a bridge, the combination withtheopposite abutments, the opposite towers r sing therefrom, the suspension cables arranged over the upper ends of the towers and anchored to the abutments, the floor cables secured to the abutments,the beams surmounting the same, and the short vertical suspension cables connecting the main cables with the floor cables, of the struts graduated in height and rising from the beams, the cl ps connecting the main suspension cables w th the truss cables at their points of intersection, and the clips connecting the 1118.111 suspension cable With the struts at their points of intersection, substantially as specified.

4. In a bridge, the combination with the opposite abutments, the towers provided w th saddles rising therefrom, the main suspension cables anchored to the abutments and seated in the saddles, the floor cables passing through openings in the towers and connected to the abutments, the pairs 0t beams supported at intervals by said floor cables and spaced apart, and the intermediate packing blocks, of the vertically disposed and reduced struts bolted to the ends of said cross-bars, the short suspension cables connecting the maincables with the floor cables and alternating with the struts, the opposite bowed truss cables supported in saddles in the upper ends of the struts and passed out through opposite ends through the towers and anchored to the abutments, substantially as specified.

5. In a bridge, the combination with the opposite abutments, the floor cables secured thereto, the towers rising from the abutments, the suspension cables supported by the towers and secured to the abutments, and the short vertical suspension cables connecting the main suspension cables with the floor cables and bowing the latter, the series of floor beams surmounting the floor cables, and the struts rising therefrom, of the adjustable truss cables supported upon the upper ends of the struts, passed through openihgsin the lower ends of the towers and anchored to the abutments, the series of bracing cables 19, 20, and 21 anchored at their ends to the abutments, passing over the upper ends of the towers and engaging the under sides of the 10 around and under the series of cross-beams and along the ends of the central beams of the series and provided with turn-buckles, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in r 5 the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL M. EDDY. Witnesses:

W. W. YOUNGER, W. P. CHURCH. 

